Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, whether he plans to undertake a further consultation on potential merits of a ban on e-collars.

One of the key reforms in the Action Plan for Animal Welfare is to ban hand-held remote-controlled electronic training collars (“e-collars”), given their scope to harm the welfare of dogs, including those deemed reactive. We continue to work closely with the animal welfare sector, enforcement agencies and Governments across the four nations on this ban.

We have listened carefully to a range of views from pet owners and respondents, as well as consulting key stakeholders including animal welfare charities, e-collar manufacturers, and trainers who use e-collars. Defra ran a public consultation in 2018 on the proposed ban on e-collars for cats and dogs in England. A summary of the responses received can be found here; Animal welfare: banning the use of electronic training collars for cats and dogs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

With reference to the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill there are currently no plans to undertake a further consultation on a ban on e-collars.

Powers already exist to ban e-collars under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The secondary legislation needed to ban remote controlled electronic training collars will be laid before Parliament as soon as Parliamentary time allows.